Gelli® prints make great tags, cards and ATCs! Watch this video demonstration for ideas on creating fun small prints!
When you print on paper that’s smaller than the painted gel plate, you’re creating a bleed print. That means the printed image is the entire paper, right up to and including the edges … no borders.

Making a bleed print — or in this case, printing tags — couldn’t be easier:
- Place your tags on the painted gel plate
- Place a cover sheet over the plate
- Rub to transfer the paint
- Remove the cover sheet
- Pull your printed tags

The cover sheet picks up the paint from the areas on the plate that weren’t covered by the tag. In fact, the cover sheet is a masked print of the negative space around the tags.
Also — use the cover sheets to pick up the ghost image after the tags are removed … and you’ll see how interesting cover sheets can become!
Cover sheets make great beginnings, so keep using them over and over.

And here’s a fun technique for adding rubber stamped images to gel printed tags!
This technique calls for some unprinted areas on your tags. You can achieve this simply with torn paper masks. Follow these easy steps for fun results!

- Apply acrylic paint to the plate and roll out with a brayer.
- Place torn pieces of paper (masks) onto the painted plate, which will create unprinted areas in your print.
- Leave masks on the plate and place the tags onto the painted plate.
- Cover the plate with a sheet of paper that’s larger than the plate.
- Rub the paper to transfer the paint — and remove the cover sheet. (keep using the cover sheet as long as the paint is dry)
- Remove the tags and let the paint dry completely.
TIP: Acrylic paint acts as a resist. It must be completely dry before continuing to the next step.
Ink a stamp with a dye stamp pad (such as Distress or Adirondack — both by Ranger) — and stamp onto the masked area on your tag. The stamped image can overlap onto painted areas.
With a damp paper towel, wipe stamped ink off the acrylic paint. Acrylic paint resists the stamp pad ink, and the stamped image will remain only in the masked area.
Note: The stamp ink may smear or blend into the unpainted paper, giving it color! The stamp image remains.

It’s fun to continue embellishing the stamp images with colored pencils or markers. But for special glittery effects, try the Wink of Stella brush pens by Zig! They add a subtle touch of superfine glitter … and offer the easiest way to add some sparkle to your print! With no mess! The brush tip allows for delicate lines as well as broader coverage. They can lend a touch of magic to a small print, like a tag!
Want to give it a try? Our extra-fun giveaway will have you making sparkly tags in no time!
This Contest is officially CLOSED
We have a winner! The random generator picked Vicki Romaine! Congrats to Vicki and a huge THANKS to all who commented and shared their fun artwork with us over the past few days on our FB page. Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season!
This fabulous prize package includes:

- One (1) — 6″ x 6″ Gelli Arts® Gel Printing Plate
- One (1) — Speedball 4″ Soft Rubber Pop-In Brayer
- One (1) — set of three (3) Wink of Stella Brush Markers
- One (1) — set of four (4) clear stamps by Inkadinkadoo
- One (1) — Distress Ink Pad
- Two (2) — Rubbing Plates by Cedar Canyon
- Twenty (20) — Blank Manilla Tags
To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment HERE ON THE BLOG!!
Comments (as your entry!) will be accepted until 12pm (noon) EST Monday, December 23rd. Leave your comment NOW!!
This Contest is officially CLOSED
We
have a winner! The random generator picked Vicki Romaine! Congrats to
Vicki and a huge THANKS to all who commented and shared their fun
artwork with us over the past few days on our FB page.
One lucky winner will be selected AT RANDOM and announced no later than 5pm EST on Monday, December 23rd. The winner will be announced here on the blog and on our Facebook page!
For more wonderful examples of Gelli printed Tags or ATC’s, check out our Pinterest Boards loaded with thousands of examples from Gelli printers who live all over the world. Please share your Gelli printed Tags or ATC’s with us on Facebook too!
Good luck … and Happy Printing!


The rubbing plates add great texture! I saved the bottom of plastic plant tray that has concentric circles for the same purpose, but I haven't tried it yet. Great video!
Thank you for ALL your videos. I find that my Gelli prints come out sharper and clearer with your instructions. I'd love to win one for my Daughter, and spread the Gelli Love. Sandi
Another brilliant idea with another great video tutorial too, thank you so much for all the inspiration you have given us all this year.
This is a wonderful giveaway and well, who wouldn't want to win, good luck to everyone.
Merry Christmas to you Gelli arts
Jan xxx
I am soooooo love the effects of Gelli plates – the possibilities are infinite 🙂
I love all your creative videos. I continue to love my gelli plate and your videos sparks all kinds of ideas for new projects. Thanks! Abigail
WOW….these are great tags. Would love to use the technique for small book papes. The 6×6 is a perfect size.
I am soooooo love the effects of Gelli plates – the possibilities are infinite 🙂
a great prize thank you for the chance to win it
Always fantastic eye candy, wonderful ideas…love it! Thank you!!
Amazing inspiration for tags. Thanks for the giveaway!
were running out for more paint!
……..where do you get the rubbing plates…….
Oh my… this looks like such fun. The more I watch these tutorials, the more I want to try one of these! It would be awesome to win one. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I love my Gelli. Thanks for another fun idea.
Gorgeous tags and great techniques! Thanks for the video and chance to win!
Awesome give away as always. Good luck everyone 🙂
Watching video is the best way of learning for me and yours are just the right pace. Though if I won I don't think I could make tags at this speed!
As always a great video!!! Thank you Gelli Arts!!!! I would sooooooooooo Love to win!!!!
Thanks for the tutorial and the opportunity to win the giveway. What a fabulous Christmas present that would be.
Great ideas! Just in time to add a tag to all my holiday gifts! I'm off to the studio to get started……
What a great Christmas present that would be 🙂
Awesome, I would love to win the giveaway and share it with my students!
I've had my eye on gelli plates/printing for over a year now and finally got myself one for Christmas! Can't wait for the bustle of the holidays to be over so that i can PlAY!!
I love my Gelli Arts Plate. It's creative possibilities are boundless. I hope I win the giveaway so I can have even more fun!
Wow! I can't believe how many ideas you have. I am ready to make some tags.
Janet Wright
Love the versatility and creative ability with the Gelli plates especially with the new sizes! I would love to win and thank you for the opportunity!
Wonderful technique video! Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge with us! Keep 'em coming. 🙂
My #1 resolution is to spend more time with my Gelli plate; would love to have more toys to go with it!
So much fun. I love the look metallic gives. But my hand are never that clean. Smile!!!
Super cool! Giveaways make me feel like I've played the lottery! Fondly, Tami
This site and tutorial are addictive. I spend too much time watching the videos (and listening to the excellent music) and never get to painting. I taught a class using the geli plate and everyone made a print and the next class they had a show and tell of their completed projects. They were very inventive.
Such beautiful tags! The video is wonderful!! Wish I could make prints that fast! Great giveaway… fun!
My Gelli Plate arrived today and I almost didn't stop playing with it long enough to check my email Wow! What a generous giveaway. Would love to win that.
What a fun technique. Love the tags, so lively and fresh 🙂
I love your technic… i'll try it !!! Thanks
What a nice give away! Very generous of you.
What a fun idea for making tags! I always enjoy your videos. 🙂
so many great ideas! I love my Gelli plate!
Thank you for all the inspiration! Your tutorials are fantastic!
Mair
I would love to win this and make the tags with the gelli plate I am going to check out utube and see what else I can do Thanks for the opportunity. Susan
Just beautiful, thank you very much for another fabulous tutorial!.I particularly liked the magenta & metallic gold tags. Gorgeous! I haven't got a Gelli plate yet so this prize would be a great jumping off point.
OMG! I love it – great works of art! I have made tons of atcs & cards using this method but never…ever thought to use this method with tags!
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these fab tags! I think 'bleed print' ATCs could be the focal point of some stunning cards. Thanks for the awesome video and for the chance to win this fabulous prize. Happy Holidays to you all. – Roz M.
Fabulous giveaway! Would love to win.. so I can share the winnings!!!
I love my big gelli plate, but it needs a little sister . . .
What a great technique! I love making tag backgrounds and I'm definitely going to try this! LOVE those texture plates!!
wow what a wonderful video and I would so truly love to win this giveaway!! I am still dreaming of having a gelli plate to play with!! thnx for a chance to win!!!
rounds and squares oh my choose ME judith
This looks like so much fun! I can't wait to try it on the Gelli I win!
Love these ideas (and would love to win the giveaway too 🙂
I love your tutorials. They get me fired up !!!!